KOCHI:
NPOL celebrated its 65th annual day, against the backdrop of its recent achievements with handing over of advanced submarine sonar, USHUS-2, and Directing Gear (DG) for ship sonars to Indian Navy. These systems were handed over to the Chief of Naval Staff by Defence Minister Arun Jaitly.
Former Chairman of DRDO and Scientific Advisor to Raksha Mantri, Dr V K Aatre was the Chief Guest of honor for the event. He is also the recipient of Padma Vibhushan and NPOL is proud to have him as the chief guest as he was also the former director of NPOL. In his inaugural speech he lauded NPOL’s achievement and said NPOL is the premium laboratory because of the commitment of its people. He also urged the requirement keeping the strength of empowerment of science while making and leading with development of systems for force. It is very important to keep at least a small fraction of its strength to keep on talking about science. Also he reminded that he believed in making extraordinary things with ordinary people than in getting extraordinary things from extraordinary people, and that’s what make today’s NPOL much capable laboratory in all aspects.
S Kedarnath Shenoy, Director, NPOL also addressed the gathering and presented the annual report of the laboratory. The Chairman and Secretary of NPOL’s works committee and General Secretaries of NPOL’s Civilian Employees and NPOL’s (R&D) Employees unions also spoke on the occasion. NPOL officers and staff who made outstanding contributions during the year were honored with various awards by the chief guest.
Prince Joseph Scientist G and K V Rajasekharan Nair Scientist-G shared the Scientist of the Year award for 2016, for their outstanding contributions in their respective fields. Dr N Hari, Scientist G and team bagged the technology group award for the year, for their outstanding and innovative contributions towards the design and realization portable diver detection sonar. Colorful cultural programs by the NPOL fraternity, and well known professional entertainers were the other highlights of the event.
